A hotel in Northern Ireland is planning to increase in size, thanks to the tourism boom in the area contributing to a rise in occupancy rates.

The Bayview Hotel in Portballintrae will add 20 bedrooms to its offering by the summer of 2019, bringing the total number of rooms at the hotel to 45.

According to the hotel’s managing director, Trevor Kane, a recent boom in tourism in Northern Ireland has played a huge part in the decision to expand the property, with occupancy at the Bayview Hotel maintaining 83% throughout the year.

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He said that television shows like Game of Thrones have helped contribute to the rise in popularity of the area and that adding more bedrooms will help encourage people to commit to a longer stay.

Kane said: “It’s no secret that the popularity of this area has grown in recent years. The current occupancy rate of the Bayview maintains a steady 83 per cent – well above Northern Ireland’s average – and at peak holiday season, hotel rooms on the North Coast are in notoriously short supply.

“Television shows like Game of Thrones, as well as a busy sports calendar, have contributed to this, but we have also been lucky to benefit from repeat business from excellent customers who keep coming back to us time and time again. This firmly established demand has given us the opportunity to invest and extend.

“Adding these new rooms will not only provide a vital boost to the local economy but will also encourage more tourists to visit and spend a longer stay on the North Coast, rather than just passing through.”

After securing a loan from Barclays, the hotel’s local banking partner since 2015, Bayview Hotel will now focus on the bedrooms expansion, before introducing a new restaurant underneath the building.

Christopher Murray, relationship director, Barclays Northern Ireland, said: “Our partnership with the Bayview fits perfectly with Barclays’ desire to support SMEs in Northern Ireland. We are seeing the steady growth of the hotel tourism and hospitality sector locally and the resulting potential for the hotel is a great opportunity for them.”